Search My Heart

Philippians 2: 1-11 is one of my favorite passages in scripture. My bible is filled with notes on this page. I love how it lists benefits we receive being a follower of Christ; encouragement, fellowship, tenderness and compassion.  I experience these wonderful benefits most, when I am around other believers.

The passage immediately gives us a challenge. God doesn’t want us to only stay around situations where we only experience these benefits. We are called to take those benefits and serve others.  As a Christian this shouldn't be a surprise.  We hear and read that our job is to serve.  But, this is where a lot of us struggle.

I think there are three kinds of Christians when it comes to serving others.  

1. The one who “gets” it.  Serving seems to flow from them.  It is who they are. They give of themselves freely.
2. The one who serves but it just doesn’t seem or feel natural.  They serve because they know it is what God wants.
3. The one who leaves serving to others.  They will give their money and donate items to their church or community outreach projects, but they think they are not gifted to serve.

No matter where you may fall, I believe we can all check our heart with regards to serving. If you relate to the third example, let me encourage you. I have not read anywhere in the bible where serving others is only for those naturally gifted to do so.

God has called you to serve!  Philippians 2: 5-7 tells us, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus...he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…”

I think the rub comes with, WHO and HOW do we serve…

WHO do we serve?  Paul says in Philippians, “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit...consider others better than yourself.”  

If we have a hard time serving, we have possibly put ourselves in a higher position than the one we are called to serve. Is there a particular group of people or even a singular person, you think you're better than? I know this is a hard question, but spend some time honestly searching your heart.  Take time to pray about it, asking God to reveal the truth.

When you see who it is you put “below” yourself, THIS is WHO you should serve.

So, HOW should we serve? Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

In humility.  This is hard.  The easiest way to serve in humility is when we've been humbled. It can feel very humbling when we realize we put ourselves before so many others.  This is a good place to start. It will take HUMILITY and faith, and when you are not sure you can do it, remember; Jesus did it for you.

We Have Hope in the Word of Life

Life can be hard.  It seems like every day I have some burden to bring before God.  Just when I feel I am gaining understanding in one area of concern, another struggle appears.

Raising kids, managing your home, and connecting with your spouse all come with daily challenges.  Throw in financial worries, stress at work, issues with friends and extended family and the list of concerns grow. Now, add loving your neighbor, serving those in need, and praying for your enemy and the daily stress of life seems daunting.

God does not want us to look at life’s struggles without hope, and he definitely does not want us to feel alone in them.

I guess that’s why James writes, “Consider it PURE JOY when you face trials of many kind…” he knew we would struggle.  He knew the world would try and steal our joy.

Jesus even says to us in the gospel of John, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world.”

Struggles are going to come, but we have to remember that;

1) Because of Jesus, our life has meaning.

2)  Because of Jesus, we have eternal life.

Our scripture passage today comes from 1 John 5:13-21.  I want to highlight verse 13 for you. “

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

The book of 1 John is one of encouragement. John starts off in chapter 1 verse 1 reassuring the reader that he was an eyewitness to Jesus.  I just love that.  He is reminding us that he was there when Jesus walked the earth.  He saw him.  Jesus is real!

John writes, “…—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. ² The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us…”  He refers to Jesus as the Word of Life and eternal life.

Jesus brings hope in the midst of our trouble, but most of all he brings life.  He makes our life here have purpose, and one day when our life here on earth is over, the struggle will not have the final word. 

Passion

Acts 21:27-36

 

 

Braveheart is one of my favorite movies. William Wallace was passionate about gaining freedom for Scotland. In fact, he was so passionate that he was willing to die for what he believed in. Paul had that same kind of passion.

 

In today’s passage, Paul has returned to Jerusalem after completing his third missionary trip. During those trips, he has seen many people come to faith in Christ. He has witnessed miracles. He has preached to thousands. But he has also been beaten, arrested and run out of town. The Jerusalem elders are proactive and try to avoid any problems, but their efforts fail.

 

As a result, Paul is falsely accused of “teaching everyone everywhere against our people our law and this place”. He is dragged out of the temple and the gates are closed behind him blocking any possible retreat. It is only when the Roman troops arrive that the frenzied crowd stops their attempt to kill Paul. Then, as if he was the offender rather than the victim, he is hand cuffed and dragged off while the crowd continues in its violent rage.

 

Most likely, neither you nor I will ever face a situation like this. Most likely, we will never be beaten, arrested or driven out of town for our faith. But think about how Paul could have felt during those times when he was persecuted. He may have gone through periods of feeling lonely, afraid, anger and self-pity.

 

These are feelings that we can relate to; feelings that can result from the struggles of daily living. Maybe it is stress at work, problems at home, frustrations at church; or possibly a devastating illness or unexpected death of a loved one, a child or spouse who is in the throes of an addiction or a divorce. Any of these life experiences could cause us to stumble in our faith.

 

Following today’s passage, we read that Paul is resilient in his faith in Jesus. He asks, and is granted, to speak to the very people who had just tried to kill him. Like William Wallace in the scene where he is on the rack and cries out “freedom” with his last breath, Paul is passionate about sharing the hope that is within him.

 

People can be passionate about many things. What are you passionate about? Does your faith in Jesus carry you through the hard times?

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%2021%3A27-36&version=NIV;TLB

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Acts.21.27-Acts.21.36

 

 

Eeyore or Tigger?

Numbers 14:1-9

 

 

Who’s your favorite: Eeyore or Tigger?

 

Have you ever noticed that there are two kinds of people in the world? One sees everything as half empty and the other as half full. In Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore is a half empty kind of guy: “It’s not much of a tail but I’m sort of attached to it”. While Tigger is always bouncing around: “Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! I almost bounced clear outta the book!”

 

In today’s passage the Israelites are half empty as they respond in despair to the report concerning the Promised Land: “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?” Sort of sounds like Eeyore doesn’t it?

 

While Joshua and Caleb are half full kind of guys: “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.”  Do you feel like bouncing with Tigger?

 

How did the other ten spies explore the same land as Joshua and Caleb but came to the totally opposite conclusion? The answer is in the last statement in today’s passage. “The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them”.

 

There are many examples in the Bible of people who believed and trusted that God would be with them in difficult, if not impossible situations. Moses ran away from Egypt and Gideon was hiding in a winepress when God promised each of them, “I will be with you”. The same promise is true for you and me.

 

Eeyore and Tigger are make believe characters from a fictional children’s book, but they have human traits. Traits that can be seen in people throughout the Bible. Traits that we can see in ourselves.

 

Are you more like Eeyore or Tigger? Or a better question to ask is this; do you see God at work in your life or do you only see the obstacles? Like the Israelites, do you ask God why, or like Joshua and Caleb do you ask God why not?

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=numbers%2014%3A1-9&version=NIV;GNT

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Num.14.1-Num.14.9

 

Press On

Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Paul is teaching his followers about life; especially life as a Christ follower.  He is instructing the people in the ways of the heart.  Press on he encourages.  That was then, this is now, is his message.  Take hold of the moment and make the most of it.  Use yesterday's mistakes for today's glory.  Forget what is behind and strain forward.  In the recovery world this type of living is referred to as One Day at a Time.

We know the end of the story; we believe that Christ's victory is ours.  As believers there is comfort in knowing our destiny, but there is discomfort in our current circumstances. Satan still prowls and we must daily command him to 'get away!'  Like Paul, our goal is to know Christ and to be like Him. This takes work, daily relationship building; a daily exercise to strengthen our faith and our knowledge of Jesus.

I find that there are a couple issues I struggle with almost every day.  It is like I don't learn from yesterday.  But, I must press on - move forward toward that goal and the ultimate victory. Press On is our cry.  When we slip up, Press On echoes in our hearts.  When we are in pain or grieving, Press On to wholeness.



Philippians 3